In November 1862, John Rains, co-owner of Rancho Cucamonga with his wife, Merced Williams, met his demise while journeying from the ranch to Los Angeles. Over the ensuing three years, multiple deaths occurred in connection with Rains’ untimely end, yet the case stagnated, earning the label of a "cold case" in contemporary terms.
Plenty of potential suspects loomed over the investigation. Rains’ widow, his brother-in-law Robert S. Carlisle, and Merced’s intimate confidant, Rámon Carrillo, who some suspected had romantic ties with her, topped the list. The possibility of an ambush by highway robbers also lingered. By mid-1865, both Carlisle and Carrillo had met their demise, and Merced faced threats on her life. The intricate web surrounding Rains’ murder set the stage for a compelling Curious Cases presentation at the Homestead this afternoon.
Born around 1827 in Alabama, Rains' early life remains largely shrouded in mystery until his arrival in Los Angeles circa 1850. His journey included stints in Texas, service in the Mexican-American War, and roles as a Texas Ranger and a livestock driver across various regions.
In 1851, he acquired the Bella Union Hotel in Los Angeles and pursued an unsuccessful bid for Los Angeles County Sheriff. After a brief absence, Rains reappeared at Rancho Santa Ana del Chino in San Bernardino County, overseeing cattle operations for its proprietor, Isaac Williams. Following Williams’ demise in 1856, Rains promptly wedded Williams’ elder daughter, Merced.
Rains then acquired Rancho Cucamonga, strategically located along the main route from Los Angeles to San Bernardino, boasting extensive vineyards during California's peak wine-producing era. Despite his efforts to expand his business ventures, Rains faced unfortunate timing, grappling with the aftermath of the Gold Rush's decline, the national depression of 1857, and subsequent environmental crises, including devastating floods and prolonged droughts.
Financial troubles began to accumulate for Rains, leading to two unpaid tax suits against him by the state. In mid-November 1862, he persuaded Merced to mortgage Cucamonga to merchant Phillip Sichel and borrowed a sum from Los Angeles doctor J.C. Welsh. On the 17th, he departed for Los Angeles to secure additional funds but disappeared near what is now San Dimas.
His body was discovered eleven days later. Carlisle took charge of the search for his brother-in-law, although it was later noted that he was absent for his swearing-in as a San Bernardino County supervisor on the day Rains disappeared. Carlisle even hosted a large party before Rains’ remains were found, badly mutilated and several hundred yards north of the road. Rains had been dragged from his carriage using a long rope favored by Californios.
As Carrillo spent more time with Merced after her husband’s death, suspicion turned towards him. However, Don Rámon willingly submitted to examination by county officials (the incident occurred in Los Angeles County) and was cleared of any involvement.
Meanwhile, Manuel Cerradel, arrested for attempting to murder Los Angeles city marshal Thomas Trafford, contracted smallpox, prevalent in the region in 1863, and confessed to his role in Rains’ murder. However, he later recanted his statement. Convicted for attempted murder by year-end, Cerradel was lynched by masked men on a steamer at San Pedro harbor, possibly due to his connection to the Rains case.
In early 1863, Ygenio Villa and Luis Sánchez were jailed for unrelated incidents but were closely interrogated for their potential involvement in Rains’ death. Santiago Sánchez, unrelated to Luis, was hanged in June 1864 for the murder of Gonzalez but claimed in a statement before his execution that his true offense was related to the Rains affair, implicating American killers and disavowing knowledge of "Bob" Carlisle.
Shortly before Sanchez’ hanging, Carrillo spent three weeks at the Rains residence recuperating from an arm infection. As he left on May 21, 1864, Carrillo was shot by a shotgun blast and succumbed to his injuries. Following this, U.S. Army dragoons, stationed in the region due to Civil War tensions in Confederate-leaning southern California, guarded Merced Rains for about a month over concerns for her safety.
Another ambush occurred in early 1864 as Hyman Tischler and Edward Newman traveled east from Cucamonga toward San Bernardino. They were attacked, apparently by Californios, and Newman was mortally wounded. Rumors circulated that he was mistaken for Carlisle.
In the meantime, Carlisle employed persuasive tactics, convincing Rains’ estate administrator and vineyard foreman, Elijah Dunlap, Merced’s relative by marriage and former Los Angeles mayor Stephen C. Foster, Los Angeles attorney Jonathan R. Scott, and two other attorneys to help him persuade Merced to grant him power of attorney. Dunlap sold one of Rains’ San Diego County ranches to Carlisle, leading to accusations of fraud and mismanagement against Merced’s brother-in-law. By early 1865, a court ruling removed Carlisle from his position and appointed Andrew Jackson King, from a Southern El Monte family, as receiver.
Enraged by these events, Carlisle sought revenge after a wedding party at the Bella Union. Encountering King in the hotel bar after midnight, Carlisle attacked him, but King managed to escape. Later that day, King’s brothers, Frank and Houston, confronted Carlisle in the hotel bar. A fierce gunfight erupted, resulting in Frank King’s near-instant death, a bystander (one of the attorneys present during Carlisle’s acquisition of Merced’s power of attorney) being severely wounded, and Carlisle dying from his injuries within three hours. The violent confrontation prompted the town’s common council to enact an ordinance prohibiting the carrying of weapons within city limits, although the law was soon repealed due to widespread disregard.
After this, violence subsided, but Merced Williams Rains’ situation with Cucamonga deteriorated. Sichel initiated foreclosure proceedings, which were successful despite being filed outside the stipulated time frame. Merced had to sell the other San Diego County ranch to cover mounting legal expenses. By 1870, Cucamonga came under the ownership of Isaias W. Hellman, banking partner of William Workman and F.P.F. Temple, and thrived under his management.
However, Merced faced financial hardship. She relocated to Los Angeles and lived with her daughter Fannie, who married Henry T. Gage, a sheep rancher and lawyer. The Gages resided in an adobe (still standing in a Bell Gardens mobile home park) on the Lugo family ranch, San Antonio. Henry later ascended in politics, becoming the governor of California from 1899 to 1903. Merced lived with the Gages until her death in 1907 at the age of 68.
The narrative of John Rains’ murder is replete with intriguing twists. Seizing the chance to marry a wealthy boss’ daughter shortly after Williams’ passing, Rains aggressively pursued his newfound prosperity, only to find himself overextended as the local economy faltered. Struggling with mounting debts and tax obligations while seeking additional funds, he met a sudden and violent end. His brother-in-law, noted for his absence on the day of Rains’ death and other questionable behaviors, assumed control over widow Merced’s affairs.
Despite being cleared twice by the courts of any involvement in Rains’ demise, Rámon Carrillo, who grew closer to Merced and spent significant time at Cucamonga, was shot and killed after leaving the residence. Manuel Cerradel and Santiago Sánchez, both convicted of unrelated offenses, met their ends with suspected ties to the murder. Another individual appeared to have been mistaken for Carlisle and was fatally shot. Ultimately, after losing his power of attorney, Carlisle sought retribution and perished in a dramatic daytime shootout in Los Angeles. Merced lived for over four decades following her husband’s death but relied on her family for support. It was a captivating tale with no definitive resolution to Rains’ murder.
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